Romney Forms 2012 Exploratory Committee

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney made his presidential ambitions official Monday by forming an exploratory committee to run for president in 2012 and declaring in a video that “it is time that we put America back on a course of greatness.”

Romney, a top contender in the 2008 presidential campaign, has been content to remain largely quiet while other Republicans seek the media spotlight. At this stage, he tops most polls as the Republican front-runner, and his advisers saw little need to compete for the boost in name recognition that comes with an early declaration.